Sample washer



Feb. '13, 1945. A, G, LE I 2,369,582

SAMPLE WASHER Filed July 2, 1942 32 a; INVENTOR- I 2,369,; sauna wasnaa Alfred G. Lewis, Linden. N. J. g Application July 2,1942, SerialNo. 449,525-

a cam 40:. zoo-231) The present invention is directed to a suitable, means for washing and drying samples of cuttings v obtained in drilling wells.

In the drilling of bore'holes,-it is customary to obtain samples of cuttings at regular intervals in order to obtain a geological record of the formations beingtraversed. A usual drilling operation involves thecirculation' of a drilling mud orfluid; the circulating fluid removing cuttings from the lower end of the bore hole to the sur-- face of the earth. Accordingly, the samples of cuttings collected at the surface are wet an con taminated with mud.

It is an object of the present invention to devise a means suitable for washing and dryingsamples of formations with a minimum of at-- tention.

Other objects-and advantages of the present invention mayb seen from the following description taken with the drawing in which Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are fragmentary views showing in greater detail parts of the device illustrated V inFig. 1; and

Figs. 5 and 6 show other suitable embodiments of the sample container used. in the assembly.

The device of the present invention may be described briefly as comprising aprime mover arranged to rotate an eccentrically arranged screen container in a bath Of water for cleansing the sample, and a cylindrical container provided with heating means for drying the sample. In the drawing, numeral ll designates a suitable prime mover such as electric motor ll, numeral l2 designates the water bath with container ll arsample dryer. 1

The bath I! of the washing devi'ceis provided with a suitable inlet II leading into an upper portion thereof and a valve controlled outlet it attached' to a lower portion thereof.

A shaft I1 is arranged in the bath connected for rotation by motor II. and another shaft I8 is attached to the other end of the'container: Rectangular sections arecut out of both shafts l1 and It to accomv modate' the square axles IS with which container II is provided. Suitable means, such as arcuate members arranged on shafts l1 and il are provided for securing th washer axles i! to shafts l1 and it and for releasing them at the option of the operator, as in Fig. 4.

The container I! may be generally described as being in the shape of acapsule divided into two sections along its longitudinal axis with an axle i9 secured to each section. The container is provided with a-suitable hingejl and latch 22 for securing the two halves of the container together during the actual washing step. The arrangement of the axles on the container gives it an eccentric. motion as it is rotated.

The drying mechanisni'comprises generally a cylindrical container 23 arranged for cooperation with a flanged circular member-1| which is arranged to be rotated by shaft II. It will be seen that container 23 and member .24 are generally similar to a can fitted with a removable cover and member 24 will be designated as the cover for conveniencein the following description. The I portionof shaft l'l to which cover It is attached is tubular in section and is arranged for receiving a cylindrically shaped electrical heating element 2!. The connections for furnishing power to this element run through shaft I! to slip rings 2i whereconventionalcarbon brushes 21 connect the slip rings to a source of power (not shown).

The heatingelement 25 is provided with a cylindrical cover 18 and extending from the free end of thecover to element 24 are a pluralityof bowed elastic members 29 which serve to support container 23 when it is in position; A hinged cover 30 is provided in the side of the container with. a suitable latching means II. The ends of container 23 and member 24 are proportioned to allow the circulation of air from the exterior to the interior of the container. A preferred method of accomplishing this end is by providing the cone tainer with a plurality of ridges 32 for contact ranged-therein, and numeral 14 designates the with the flange of member 24, the ridge allowing circulation between the container and the cover element.

The preferable manner of using the device of the resent invention is as follows:

Container i3 is removed from the tank, opened up, the sample'placed therein, and the container latched in a closed position and secured to shafts i1 and I8, The water is then allowed to circulate through the' bath and at the same time the motor is started to rotate'container IS, the rotation-o'f. the container and circulation of water continuing until the circulating water no longer becomes muddy. Rotation of the container is then stopped, the container is removed from the bath, opened, cover SI of the dryer opened and the sample transferred from the washer to the dryer. The dryer is then closed, heat applied to the heating element thereof, and-the dryer rotated to remove moisture uniformly from the A sample of cuttings is collected from the drilling fluid.

sample. :When the sample is dry, the container 23 may be pulled from the shai't and the sample removed therefrom.

Another embodiment of a container suitable for employment with the vet I2 is shown in F18- ure 5. In this embodiment a, container 38 is divided into two longitudinal sections as in the embodiment precedingly described. In addition, a. solid member 33 is removably positioned between the two sections to divide the container into two compartments. It will be evident that this embodiment allows two separate samples to be washed simultaneously.

solid member 37 .in position. 'Inthis emhcdi.

merit, as in the precedinely described embed.-

ment, two samples may be washed simultaneous- 1y without danger of mixing them. I

In. this embodiment the Having fully described and illustrated pre fen-ed embodiments oi the present invention, what I desire to. claim as m invention is:

1. A device adapted for washing samples com prising, in combination, a capsule shaped, perio rated container. aligned stub axles secured to said container to make an acute ansleoi suh= stantial size with the longitudinal axis of said container, a. vessel for holding washing liquid, e pair of aligned spaced substantially horizontal shafts journaled to said vessel and means T121896? ably engaging said shafts with said axles for to tatively supporting said container in said vessel 2. A device in accordance with claim 1 in whieh said container is divided longitudinally and is provided with a longitudinally extending psi tition separating it into a plurality of zones.

' 3. A device in accordance with eleim'l in which said container is divided leteradiy and is pm" vided wen a lateraily extending partition Mating itinto a plurality oi zones. 

